By Phil Bliss
Meet Joe. Joe is not his real name and in fact Joe could be
anybody's name. Joe believes in God but doesn't feel he
needs to have any type of relationship with God. To Joe God
is this supernatural being that created the Earth and keeps
the world in balance and gives miracles and healings when
someone is sick. That is the extent of God to Joe. Joe
believes that religion is for those that have a void in
their life. He has no voids. Joe graduated from college and
started working for 25 thousand a year. Fourteen years
later, Joe is making four times what he made when he first
graduated from college, he has a house in the suburbs, a
wife, a child and a dog. He will probably be a VP before he
is 40 and he works out three times a week so he is in really
good health. Joe doesn't need God.
Meet Jack. Jack is not his real name and in fact Jack could
be anybody's name. Jack believes in God but doesn't like God
because Jack feels God doesn't like him. Jack sees
Christians that seem to have happy lives and thinks God
likes them. You see Jack has had about seven different jobs
since graduating from High School 18 years ago. The mines
close or the plants close or the work is just too strenuous
for his back problems. Jack often wonders why God doesn't
like him but never asks God. Jack just continues to feel
miserable and continues to hang out with the guys on
Saturday night and laugh at the old folks as they leave the
catholic church across from the local bar. Jack doesn't need
God.
Meet James. James is not his real name and in fact James
could be anybody's name. James does not believe in God.
James is fresh out of college and has a degree that he will
probably never use but at least he has it. For now he is
working odd jobs and wherever he can. James is free and
young and loves a good party. James doesn't believe in God
because he never learned the truth about God. James grew up
without prayer in school and was taught evolution and it
sounded good so it could not be wrong. James thinks that
religious people are cool but they are really missing
something. He believes they make up a God to cover up their
iniquities. He knows he has some iniquities, but he covers
them up with some free time with his friends. James is
considering what life has to offer him and he sees no
future. He thinks life is a big waste and is waiting for
someone to give him the real meaning of life so he can
discuss it with him. James doesn't need God.
The fact is that we all need God. He does exist and he does
not hate anyone. He loves all of us but he hates our sins.
He hates the pride that Joe has. He hates the self pity that
Jack feels and he hates the lack of trust that James
harbors. The truth is that Joe, Jack and James are like many
people alive today. Many people feel they don't need God
because they have all they need in their jobs and their life
in the suburbs. Many people feel that God has forsaken them
and they don't want any part of him. Many others were never
told about God and have a hard time believing he could
exist. Jesus said to his disciples "Go and make disciples of
all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." He told us to do this
because he knew there were Joes, Jacks and James's in the
world. He told us to do this because he loves every single
one of them.
If you are a Joe or a Jack or a James, try to find out more
about God. He does love you. If you are not a Joe or a Jack
or a James, but know one of them. Pray for them and speak to
them. Share your life with them and tell them how a
relationship with Jesus Christ has changed your life.
